Ermelo English pupils back in class today

The 95 English-speaking pupils - who were left stranded at the Ermelo Hoërskool school hall without receiving lessons when the school re- opened this year - will be in classrooms today.

The 95 English-speaking pupils - who were left stranded at the Ermelo Hoërskool school hall without receiving lessons when the school re- opened this year - will be in classrooms today.

The Mpumalanga education department and the school's management were yesterday working out final logistics on accommodating them in the former Afrikaans-only school, department spokesman Hlahla Ngwenya said.

This comes after the school lost its appeal in the Pretoria high court on Friday against an interim order compelling it to become a parallel medium school with both Afrikaans and English classes.

Ngwenya said the department had agreed to the school's request to appoint five new English language teachers. He said English textbooks had also been supplied to the school.

The school last year appealed to the court to set aside a decision by the education department, which revoked the powers of the school's governing body to determine language policy.

The school's principal, Koos Kruger, was last week suspended with full pay.

His disciplinary hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday in Ermelo. - Sapa